School furniture



Deo 20, 1938. I M Ml KONARSK|` l 2,140,635

SCHOOL FURNITURE Filed June 5,` 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l l hhpl'm l||| z2 M M KoNARsKl Dec. 20, 1938.', M, M. KoNARsKl l SCHOOL FURNITURE Filed Jun'e 5, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 DNARSKI llllllllllllllllllllllllll itil! lily Il will!l!IIlllllflllllflirlllrl.

INVENTOR BY if ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 20, 1938 IUNITED STATES PATENT vOFFICE SClaims.

'I'his invention relates to improvements in a combination desk and seat adapted to be used for school purposes.

School desks as ordinarily constructed, must be built in a plurality of sizes to accommodate pupils of different ages and sizes. Sudden shifts in population require modern school authorities to carry a large reserve stock of each size of desk.

This necessitates a large investment and considerable storage space.

Objects of this invention are, to provide a combination desk and seat which will be strong and durable; which may be quickly and conveniently adjusted to comfortably fit pupils of any age and size whereby pupils in the same grade of different sizes may be comfortably and properly seated and desks oi' one size interchangeably used in all grades.`

Other objects are to provide an adjustable desk and seat composed of separable parts which can be` quickly and` conveniently assembled and which will occupy a relatively small vamount of space in shipment or storage.

The above objects are accomplished and other advantages are gained by the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein there is shown an illustra- `tive embodiment of the invention, it being understood that the invention is not confined to the exact design shown, and that changes and modific cations may be made which come within the view taken as indicated by the lines-5 5 of Figure l,

Figure 6 is a vertical, sectional view taken as indicated by the lines 6 6 of Figure I,

Figure 7 is a vertical, cross sectional view taken `as indicated by the lines 1 1 of Figure 1,

Figure 8 is a rear, elevational view of one of the back rests employed in reducing the inventionk vto practice,

'Figure 9 is a fragmentary, longitudinal view Figure 5 is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional v showing the inwardly, presented side of the upper portion oi' the seat frame.

Proceeding now toa detailed description of the invention, with reference to the particular adaptation thereof disclosed in the drawings, the numerals 8 and 9 denote base members each composed of metal tubing, The forward end portions 8a and 8a of the said base members are turned upwardly to form leg supports for the desk hereinafter described.

The rear end portions 8b and 8b of the members 8 and 9 are likewise turned upwardly to form leg supports for the seat hereinafter described. rIthe numeral I 5 is used generally to denote a desk frame which is preferably formed of one piece of metal tubing having downwardly turned end portions I5a which form the upper section of the desk legs. The middle portion of the frame I5 is turned rearwardly in the form of a horizontal loop which extends along the lateral sides and rear end of the desk and forms a. support for the box portion I6 thereof.

The upturned portions 8a and 9a are internally threaded to receive the lower ends of the threaded rods I1. The upperend of each rod I1 is provided with screw threads of an opposite pitch and the downwardly turned portions I5a are internally threaded to receive the upwardly projecting portion of the rod I1.

'I'he rod I1 is thus operatively positioned in each upturned portion 8a and 9a to adjustably secure the desk frame I5 on the baseportions 8 and 9. Each rod I1 is provided with an exteriorly knurled hand grip I8 which is welded or otherwise suitably secured on the middle portion of the rod I1. The grip I8 is provided on each axial end thereof with a bore I8 which is substantially larger than the tubes 8a and I5a. A tube'20 is secured in each bore I8 with the upper tube 28 overlapping the downturned portion I5a and the lower tube 20 overlapping the upturned portion 8a or 9a. It will be seen that `the tubes 20 thus cover the threaded portions of the rod I1 and that the knurled grip I8 may be operated to raise or lower the desk portion I5.

The upturned portions 8b and 9b are likewise internally threaded and a c)bolt I1 having a grip `I8 and the tubes 28 are likewise operatively positioned therein. The numeral 2| denotes a seat frame which is formed of one piece of tubing having downturned end portions 2Ia. each of which is secured on the upper end portions of a rod I1 positioned in one of the upturned portions 8b to adjustably secure the same in assembled-relation in the manner hereinbefore described relativel to the portions 8a and |6a. The downturned portions 2 Ia extend upwardly and are bent y forwardly, then downwardly to form vertical side members 2lb from which the tube 2| is bent forwardly to form a loop' adapted to support the seat 22.

On each lateral side of the seat, the side members 2Ia and 2lb are connected with the cross members 23 and 24 which are preferably in the form of a tube and which are welded orotherwise ,suitably secured to the portions 2 Ia and 2 Ib. Each cross member 23 is inclined forwardly to form a support for the back members 25 and 26 hereinafter described. s

While the back members 25 and 26 maybe formed of any suitable material, I prefer to form the same of molded fiber composition. Each of the back members 25 and 26 is in the form of a slat having a threaded stud 21 embedded therein and projecting from each end thereof. Each threaded stud 21 is provided with an axial bore in which is slidably mounted a plunger 29 which projects beyond the end thereof for a purpose hereinafter described. The bore 28 is reduced in diameter adjacent the inner end of each stud 21 to provide a shoulder 30 against which is mounted a coil spring 3| which is positioned therein to normally move the plunger 29 to an outward position.

Each back member 25 or 26 is provided with a bore 33 which coincides with the reduced inner end portion of the bore 28 and in which is slidably mounted an elongated member 32.

The outer end of the elongated member 32 is suitably secured to the plunger 25|Y and the inner end thereof is operatively connected to a button 33 which projects from a slot in the rear face of each back member whereby the knob 34 may be moved to operate the plunger 29. l

The numeral 36 denotes an eye member having a ring adapted to be mounted on one of the cross members 23 or 24 and which is provided with a threaded stud 36a which corresponds in shape and size to the stud 21. The eye member 36 is split to form the pieces 36D and 36c forthe purpose of providing means whereby each eye member 36 may be positioned on one of the cross members 23 or 24. With the eye 6 assembled on one of said cross members, a nut 31 is operatively positioned on the stud portion 36a to hold the pieces 36h and 36e in assembled relation.

The numeral 38 denotes a nut which is threaded on the studs 21 and 36a to hold the same in assembled relation. The eye member 36 is provided with a radial bore 39 which extends axially through the portion 36a, in alinement with the bore 28 in the stud 21 and in which the plunger 29 is received as shown in Figure 4. Each cross member 23 and 24 is provided on the forwardly presented face thereof with a longitudinally directed row of bores 46 in which the plunger 29 is received to detachably hold the eye member 36 in a fixed position thereon.

The box portion I6 of the desk is preferably formed of fiber, molded in one piece with rounded corners and is adapted to be mounted with the upper portion thereof fitted within the loop in the desk frame I5. The box I6 is secured in the frame by the pins 42 which are entered through suitable inserts 43 in the lateral sides of the box 6 and are entered in bores 44 in the tubing I5 as shown in Figure 3.

The seat n is formed to fit within the loop in the seat frame 2|. The forward and lateral sides of the seat 22 are preferably provided with an rnects the seat frame tothe base members.

overhanging edge portion 22a which rests on the tubing 2|. Suitable fingers 45 are secured to the bottom of the seat 22 and are entered in slots 46 to securely hold the seat in position in said loop.

In use, the down turned portions |5a of the desk frame I5 are placed in axial alinement with the upturned portions, 8a and 9a ofthe base portions 8 and 9. The upper end of the shaft I1 is entered in the threaded bore of each downturned portion and the lower end of each shaft is entered in the threadedbore of the upturned portions 8a and 9a andthe knurledhandle I6 is rotated to operatively position the shaft |1 in said bores.

i The downturned portions 2|a of the seat frame 2| are likewise secured to the upturned portions 6b by means cfa shaft |1. A desk box I6 is secured to`the desk`frame and the seat 22 and the back members 25 and 26 are secured to the seat frame as hereinbefore set forth.

It will be seen that the height of the desk |6 may be adjusted by operating the knurled handle I8 and that the height of the seat 22 may be likewise adjusted by operating the bolt |1 which con- To adjust the back member 25, on the cross members 23, the buttons 34 are moved inwardly to withdraw the plunger 29 from the bores 40 in the members 23. The eye members 36 are then moved on the members 23 to position the back member 25 in a selected position. The buttons 34 are released whereupon the springs 3| move the plungers 29 into one of the bores 40 thus securely locking each end of the back member 25 in a selected position on the cross member 23. The adjustment of the back member 26 on the cross member 24 is likewise accomplished. The desk and seat may be thus raised or lowered to comfortably iit pupils of any size. As the cross members 23 are inclined downwardly, the seat backs 25 and 26 may be moved forwardly and downwardly to fit pupils of the lower grades. In the position shown in Figures 1 and- 7 the seat backs 25 and 26 are positioned to fit pupils in the higher grades. As the threaded portions of the shaft I1 are covered by the tubes 20, the furniture herein described may be adjusted to any height without exposing the threads in the shaft |1.

It will be seen that I have provided a strong, durable desk which may be manufactured at a low cost, which can be shipped or stored in a knocked-down condition and which can be quickly and conveniently assembled to provide a desk adjustable to t pupils of any size.

Having thus illustrated my invention and described the same in detail, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. In furniture of the character described, a tubular frame provided with longitudinally directed, spaced, base members, having upturned forward end portions forming desk supporting legs and upturned rearward end portions forming seat supporting legs; a desk frame extending upwardly and rearwardly from said desk supporting legs in the form of a loop, a seat frame extending upwardly from said seat supporting legs, then curved forwardly and downwardly with the middle portion thereof continued to form a desk supporting legs; the rearward end portions of said members being upturned to form seat supporting legs; a one-piece tubular desk frame having vertical end portions, means to adjustably secure said vert/ical end portions to said desk supporting legs; a desk box mounted between said vertical end portions, said desk frame being extended rearwardly along the lateral sides and rear edge of said box; a tubular seat frame having vertical end portions; vertically adjustable means to secure the end portions of said seat frame on said seat supporting legs; said seatv frame curved forwardly from said vertical end portions, then downwardly withthe middle portion thereof continued forwardly in a horizontal loop, a seat secured in said loop and a back support adjustably secured on said seat frame.

3. In furniture of the character described, two tubular, longitudinally directed, spaced, horizontal, base members, each of said members having upturned forward end portions forming desk supporting legs; the rearward end portions of said members being upturned to fonn seat supporting legs; a one-piece tubular desk frame having vertical end portions each adjustably secured to one of said desk supporting legs, said desk frame being extended rearwardly in the form ofl ya square loop, a desk box mounted in said loop; a tubular seat frame having vertical end portions; means to adjustably secure each vertical end porltion of` said seat` frame on one of said seat supporting legs; said seat frame curved forwardly from said end portions, then downwardly with the middle portion thereof forming a forwardly projecting square loop, a seat secured in the last named -loop and back members adjustably secured on` said seat frame.

4.' In furniture of the character described, longitudinally directed, spaced, base members having interiorly threaded upturned forward end portions, la. tubular desk Liframe having down- 'turned, interiorly threaded end portions, each positioned in coaxial alinement with one oi' said upturned portions, a threaded shaft operatively mounted in the bores of saidcoaxially alined end portions, a tube having the middle portion thereof secured to the middle portion of each shaft and arranged with the coaxially alined end portions. slidably received in said tube, and a desk on said desk frame. d

5. In furniture of the character described, a

base portion having interiorly threaded upturned. tubular legs and an upper structure having downwardly presented, interiorly threaded portions, each positioned in coaxial alinement with one of said legs, a threaded shaft operatively mounted in each downwardly presented portion with the lower end portion thereof operatively mounted in one of said legs; a tube fixed to each threaded shaft, said tube telescopically arranged relative to the leg and to the downwardly presented portion in which the shaft is mounted.

6. In furniture of the character described, a seat frame formed of one piece of tubing having end portions forming vertical posts, said tubing curved for'wardly from each of said posts, and extended downwardly to form at each side a pair of longitudinally spaced, side members with the intervening portion of the tubing arranged in a forwardly projecting, horizontal loop forming a seat support, each pair of side members provided with a tubular `cross member and a seat back adjustably secured to said cross members and extending therebetween.

'7. In furniture of the character described, a seat frame formed of one piece of tubing having end portions forming vertical posts, said tubing curved forwardly from each of said posts and extended downwardly to form at each side a pair of longitudinally spaced, side members with the central portion of the tubing arranged in a forwardly projecting, horizontal loop forming a seat support; downwardly inclined, parallel, tubular cross members connecting each pair of side members; a back rest adjustably secured to the like cross members at each side and extending therebetween.

8. In furniture of the character described, base members having upturned end portions providing supporting legs, a desk mounted on the forwardly presented legs, a seat frame formed of one piece of tubing having end portions forming vertical posts adjustably secured to the rearwardly presented legs, said tubing curved forwardly from each of said posts and extending downwardly to form spaced, side members with the central portion of the tubing arranged in a forwardly projecting, horizontal loop forming a Seat support, each pair of side members provided with downwardly inclined, tubular cross members and a. seat back adjustably secured to said cross members and extending between said side members.

MICHEL M. KONARSKI. 

